Malta Joins 11 EU Countries In Concerned Note Over Lab-Grown Meat
Malta, Italy, Romania and nine other European Union countries are raising concerns about lab-grown meat, arguing that it poses a threat to traditional food production methods. While they insist that meat cultivated in a laboratory does not constitute a sustainable alternative to farm-based production, others believe this stance may be exaggerated and premature.
A note submitted to the Council of Ministers and set to be discussed at the next meeting of EU agriculture ministers outlines their concerns. According to the note, lab-grown meat raises ethical, economic, social, and public health questions that are essential for the future of society. The document claims that these practices represent a threat to primary farm-based approaches, which are at the core of the European farming model.
The note, titled “CAP’s role in safeguarding high-quality and primary farm-based food production,” specifically targets “cell-based food production practices.” Authored by Austria, France, and Italy, it is supported by the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, and Malta.
However, some argue that characterising lab-grown meat as a threat is premature, given that it is still in the early stages of development and innovation. One diplomat mentioned, “It’s a sector that does not yet exist; at this point, it’s about innovation in a lab. Suppressing this now only hinders the kind of innovation that is precisely necessary for sustainability.”
Currently, there is no cell-based meat marketed in Europe, and any authorisation for its sale would need to follow an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under the Novel Food Regulation.
The opposing countries are not calling for rule changes at this stage but rather seek to “take into account these questions and outcomes of the discussions with Member States and European civil society before making any market authorisation decisions.”
Italy has been the most vocal opponent of lab-grown meat and has even imposed a national ban on the sale of cellular agriculture products. This measure is now under EU scrutiny for a possible breach of single market rules.
On the other hand, the Netherlands has been a leader in cell-meat production, with significant investments in research and development. Maastricht University Professor Mark Post made headlines in 2013 by presenting the first lab-created hamburger to the public.
In 2021, the EU granted €2 million to the Dutch Feed for Meat project, developed by Nutreco in collaboration with Mosa Meat, a startup founded on Professor Post’s experiments.
The debate surrounding lab-grown meat in Europe continues to evolve, with some countries emphasising the potential benefits of innovation, while others raise concerns about its impact on traditional agriculture and food production methods. As the industry matures, it will be crucial to strike a balance between innovation and sustainability in the European food sector.
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